USA > Georgia > The Confederate records of the State of Georgia, Vol 4 > Part 5
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Of notes payable in eight per cent.
bonds or specie_ $ 3,758,000.00 ·
81
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
Of bonds payable in six per cent. bonds or specie, 4,800,000.00
Of notes payable in Confederate Treas- ury Notes, 8,165,000.00
Of change bills payable in Confederate Treasury Notes, 1,463,192.00
Making in all issues the sum of $ 18,186,192.0.)
Of these there have been redeemed and burned, 2,993,500.00
And of these
465,416,115.00
3,458,916.15
Leaving yet outstanding (except about $80,000 now in the treasury.) After the issue of these notes was ordered by the Legislature, (I mean the issue of the eight per cent.) and before they could be prepared, there was considerable opposition to them in commercial cir- cles; most capitalists having desired the issue of bonds by the State which would begin to pay interest at the moment of investment, while these notes would produce none until six months after the termination of the war. It was even intimated that some influential banks would not receive them on deposit; of course the city merchants as well as those from the country towns corresponding with them became shy and the people who have their judgment of money almost always formed or controlled by the banks, handled them with cautious reserve; at this juncture when the State was pressed for the want of money to meet the extraordinary and daily calls upon the treasury, Governor Brown and a number of patriotic citizens advanced their private funds to the State, tak-
82
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
ing the certificates of the treasurer conditioned to be paid in State Treasury Notes when issued, I think the amount thus advanced by Governor Brown of his own funds as well as of others, and as trustee for his children (as I understood) was upwards of three hundred thousand dollars. The certificates were taken up as soon as the notes were ready, and perhaps it would not be improper to notice that then they not only commanded no premium but were not as favorably received as the notes of the Confederacy, which were, I think, just making their appearance. Before the amounts thus advanced were exhausted, many of the banks changed their policy and notified the Governor that large amounts would be placed on their books to the credit of the State and sub- ject to the checks of the Treasurer, and that they would receive the treasury notes of the State when issued in payment of these accommodations. For this timely aid Georgia owes a debt of gratitude she can not repay to the late R. R. Cuyler, President of the Central Railroad Bank, whose patriotic and efficient efforts in her behalf and unhesitating and important aid whenever asked, ceased only with his valuable life. But one pace behind him, ever ready to support him in his noble work as well by his own example as by his exhortations and appeals to others, stood G. B. Lamar, President of the Bank of Commerce. This action of the banks becoming known, many other citizens came forward with what capital they could control and asked to be allowed to exchange for the State notes. Without hesitation I granted their requests. These amounts ranged from a few dollars to hundreds and thousands. Toward the winter of 1862, the notes of the State began to be considered as safe, if not safer than those of the Confederacy, and this became so apparent
83
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
that at the session of 1862, a resolution was introduced in the Senate authorizing the Governor to sell the State notes at such premium as they might command for the benefit of the State. This resolution, as is shown by the journal of the Senate, was twice up for discussion. In debate it was opposed strongly on the ground that such action would tend to depreciate the notes of the Confed- eracy and that it was neither wise nor patriotic to admit of any distinction between those and the notes of the State; at its second discussion it was laid on the table for the present, and it was never afterwards acted on, the effect was to show that the Legislature desired no dif- ference to be made or countenanced by any officer of the State. Under this action of the Legislature I did not feel authorized to make any distinction between State and Confederate notes, but paid them out in terms of the law whenever there was not a sufficiency of other money in the treasury to meet the appropriations of the Legisla- ture. By another Act of the legislature, executors, administrators, guardians and trustees were authorized to invest in State securities. These notes being to all intents and purposes certificates to the amount of their face that the State would issue her bonds for their re- demption at the end of the war, I have had no hesita- tion (before so great a discount grew up on Confederate Notes) in making exchanges with persons whom I had a right to deem reliable when they assured me that they desired them for the investment of estate funds. In other instances and within the first year or eighteen months after their issue, I have felt warranted and that the State was not wronged thereby, in exchanging with other persons of probity and honor, upon their assurance to me that they desired them for investment, not specula-
84
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
tion. I may have ignored the difference between them too long, but I had the same feeling as that exhibited by the Legislature and in that spirit treated Confederate notes as on a par with our own, longer than I ought. Since the depreciation of Confederate notes, I have, - when desired, paid out State notes to salaries of the civil list and employees of the State, several times to Commissaries and Quartermasters for purchase of sup- plies, when it was represented to me that much better bargains could be made by paying in these notes; to the distribution of the indigent soldiers' family fund; to the Hospital and Relief Association; and some times when there were no other funds in the treasury or not enough to meet the drafts presented, I have paid them to private persons. The members and officers of the Legislature have been paid in State notes ever since the Confederate notes showed a serious depreciation; and later when it was plainly manifest that their pay and mileage, even in State eight per cents would not pay their expenses, in consequence of the extraordinary rates of board and travel, I have under the instruction of the Governor per- mitted them to exchange (for two or three sessions past) from two to four hundred dollars of Confederate notes for the same amount of State notes to enable them to meet, by their sale, their reasonable expenses.
Under the policy adopted by the Legislature of pay- ing the salaries of public officers in State notes, I have always let them have that class of notes when I had them on hand, occasionally, however, when it happened that I had no State notes when their warrants were presented, I have paid them in Confederate notes and allowed then to return them and get State notes when I had them in the treasury. These exchanges, however, amounted to
85
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
only a few thousand dollars, but as I have before stated, no records or even memoranda were kept of them, and I can not pretend to give the amount of the money ad- vanced or loaned by the banks and others, amounting to over three millions of dollars to be paid in State notes. I think it due to the lenders to observe that they demanded no interest, and the notes now held by them are mere cer- tificates of indebtedness which can draw no interest ac- cording to their face, until six months after the end of the war. All which is respectfully submitted.
JNO. JONES, Treasurer.
[Enclosure No. 2.]
COMPTROLLER-GENERAL.'S OFFICE, MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga., November 4, 1865.
His Excellency, JAMES JOHNSON, Provisional Governor. SIR: Your communication of the 2d inst., asking for information of the Comptroller-General and Treasurer, accompanied by a resolution from the convention, calling upon your Excellency for information upon various sub- jects has been received, and in response, I have the honor to report, that I can only give you information upon two subjects embraced in that resolution, and they are 1st as to number, date and amount of executive warrants drawn upon the treasury, and in whose favor drawn, for the purchase of cotton for the State; and 2d, as to the amount of State money, or Georgia treasury notes and change bills paid into the treasury since the commence- ment of the war, when so paid in, and by whom paid in,
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CONFEDERATE RECORDS
etc. Upon examining the books in this office, I find that the following warrants were drawn to purchase cotton and other productions for the State, as authorized by the Acts of the Legislature:
ON SOLDIERS CLOTHING FUND, 1864.
Warrant No. 571 February 11th, 1864 Cen- tral Railroad Co., for freight.
Warrant No. 571, February 11, 1864, on 183 bales of cotton from Macon to Au- gusta, $ 640.50 .
Warrant No. 590, Feb. 19, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to pay for cotton for the State, 500,000.00
Warrant No. 632, March 2, 1864, A. Wil- bur, Agt., to purchase cotton 100,000.00
Warrant No. 640, March 9, 1864, John Jones, Jr., advanced by order of Gov. to Gans & Co. to purchase cotton for State, 120,000.00
Warrant No. 678, March 31, L. Waitzfel- der, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 200,000.00
Warrant No. 682, April 1, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 30,000.00
Warrant No. 861, May 11, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 100,000.00
87
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
Warrant No. 979, June 18, 1864, A. Wil- bur, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 32,000.00
Warrant No. 980, June 18, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 186,370.10
$1,269,010.60
ON FUND APPROPRIATED FOR THE EXPORTATION OF COTTON.
Warrant No. 150, January 20, 1865, L. Waitzfelder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State $ 700,000.00
Warrant No. 390, March 7, 1865, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 200,000.00
Warrant No. 480, March 22, 1865, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 250,000.00
:
$1,150,000.00
ON COTTON CARD APPROPRIATION.
Warrant No. 710, April 19, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, $. 400,000.00
Warrant No. 933, June 1, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State, 500,000.00
88
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
Warrant No. 980, June 1, 1864, L. Waitz- felder, Agt., to purchase cotton for the State,
100,000.00
$1,000,000.00
These warrants were drawn by the Governor on the treasury in favor of the parties above named, and have heretofore been reported to the Legislature in my an- nual reports of 1864, page 78, 79 and 80, and 1365, page 76.
In relation to the Georgia treasury notes and change bills paid into the treasury, I have further to report that what are called eight per cent. treasury notes, were as per certificates of the Treasurer, paid into the treasury as follows :
EIGHT PER CENT.
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the
Treasury April 9, 1862 $ 25,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury April 14, 1862 25,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury April 18, 1862 25,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury April 19, 1862 25,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury, April 23, 1862 50,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the .
Treasury April 30, 1862 500,000.00
$
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
89
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the .
Treasury May 20, 1862. 1,050,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury July 23, 1862 365,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury August 30, 1862 255,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury January 21, 1863 30,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury February 28, 1863 453,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury March 31, 1863 200,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury April 30, 1863 80,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury May 30, 1863 150,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury June 30, 1863. 100,000.00
Dated January 15, 1862. Received into the Treasury July 31, 1863 255,000.00
$3,588,000.00
Dated January 15, 1865. Received into the Treasury March 31, 1865 170,000.00
$3,758,000.00
It will be seen that while all these notes are dated on their face, on the same day (except $170,000 of those issued to pay the members and officers of the last Leg-
90
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
islature and the salaries of other civil officers of the State) yet they were paid into the treasury at different times as they were needed. As the Acts of 1864 required the Treasurer to pay the members and officers of the Leg- islature in State treasury notes of the class issued under Act of 14th December, 1861, and as none of said notes were engraved or in the Treasury, I intended to have them all engraved as those issued in 1862, with date, vignetts and all, but the engraver had not the materials to so print the $50 bills, and as their appearance was different from the $50's issued in 1862, they and the $5 bills issued for the same purpose were dated 15th Jan- uary, 1865.
Under Act of 14th December, 1863, $1,005,000 of the above notes have been cancelled and burned, and treas- ury certificates of deposit issued for the same, binding the State to the same obligations it assumed on the face of the treasury notes, consequently the burning of these notes did not decrease the liabilities of the State.
What are called the six per cent. treasury notes were, as per certificates of the treasury paid into the treasury as follows:
SIX PER CENT.
Dated Feb. 1, 1863. Paid into the Treasury
February 28, 1863 $ 500,000.00
Dated Feb. 1, 1863. Paid into the Treasury March 31, 1863 800,000.00
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury April 30, 1863 300,000.00
1
91
1
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury May 30, 1863. 800,000.00
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury June 30, 1863 170,000.00
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury August 31, 1863 430,000.00
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury Sept. 30, 1863 1,000,000.00
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury Dec. 31, 1863 500,000.00
Dated Feb. 2, 1863. Paid into the Treasury
Feb. 18, 1864 300,000.00
$ 4,800,000.00
$445,000 of these notes have also been cancelled and burned, and treasury certificates of deposit given for the same. What are called the currency treasury notes, or notes redeemable in Confederate treasury notes and pub- lic dues, were, as per certificates of the Treasurer, paid in as follows:
TREASURY NOTES DUE IN CONFEDERATE TREASURY NOTES OR PUBLIC DUES.
Dated April 6, 1864. Paid into the Treasury . April 30, 1864 $ 2,080,000.00
Dated April 6, 1864. Paid into the Treasury May 31, 1864. 2,430,000.00
Dated April 6, 1864. Paid into the Treasury June 30, 1864 2,500,000.00 .
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CONFEDERATE RECORDS
Dated April 6, 1864. Paid into the Treasury July 30, 1864 1,040,000.00
Dated April 6, 1864. Paid into the Treasury August 30, 1864 45,000.00
Dated March 20, 1865 (under Act of 1864), Paid into the Treasury May 8, 1865_ 70,000.00
$ 8,165,000.00
Redeemed and burned 2,993,500.00
Leaving outstanding $ 5,171,500.00
The State change bills were, as per certificates of the Treasurer, paid into the treasury as follows:
April, 1863. Paid into the Treasury. $ 62,270.00
May, 1863. Paid into the Treasury 102,350.00
June, 1863. Paid into the Treasury 80,605.00
July, 1863. Paid into the Treasury 53,470.00
August, 1863. Paid into the Treasury_ 89,925.00
September, 1863. Paid into the Treasury_ 53,350.00
Oct. 15, 1863. Paid into the Treasury. 31,690.00
Oct. 30, 1863. Paid into the Treasury 73,750.00
Nov. 30, 1863. Paid into the Treasury
54,250.00
Feb'y, 1864. Paid into the Treasury. 134,625.00
April, 1864. Paid into the Treasury 292,282.00
May, 1864. Paid into the Treasury. 28,250.00
July, 1864. Paid into the Treasury 114,000.00
August, 1864. Paid into the Treasury 171,375.00
93
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
Oct., 1864. Paid into the Treasury 69,250.00
April, 1865. Paid into the Treasury 15,250.00
May, 1865. Paid into the Treasury 36,500.00
$ 1,463,192.00
Redeemed and burned
465,416.15
Leaving outstanding $ 997,775.85
Although the certificates of the Treasurer show the payments as above, yet the same do not show the precise time at which all of these notes were paid in, because, to avoid frequent entries of small amounts on the books of the Treasurer and Comptroller-General's offices, semi- official or temporary receipts were given by the Treas- urer for these notes, as they were ready for issue, and deposited in the treasury, and then at a certain time, or after he had received a large amount, he would then give the usual certificates for the total amount received to date, and upon this certificate he was charged on the journal and ledger in this office for the same. Again, in one or two instances the Treasurer, although having given his semi-official receipt for notes received, did not give the usual certificates until sometime after they were received. For instance, although the $170,000 issued to pay the members and officers of the Legislature, and other civil officers of the State, was turned over to him about the 1st of February, to enable him to settle with the members and officers of the Legislature and others at Macon, yet he did not give the usual certificates for the same until after his return to Milledgeville in March. And again, although the amount of change bills paid into
.
94
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
the treasury as per certificate in April was turned over to the Treasurer in November, and semi-official receipts taken until more were issued, yet in consequence of the breaking up of the things, the want of communication, getting all the books, papers, etc., back to the seat of government, the regular certificate was not given for the same until April.
The above comprises all the State treasury notes that have been issued and paid into the State treasury since the commencement of the war-none were issued before. They were all paid into the treasury as directed by law, by me as Comptroller-General, after the same were num- bered, signed and registered. Having said this much, it is hardly necessary to repeat, but that the enquiry of the resolution may be fully answered so far as this office is concerned, I will state, that as a matter of course, no exchange of said notes was ever made for Confederate treasury notes or bonds, or anything of the kind; and further, that no one ever proposed to me such an ex- change.
RECAPITULATION.
Amount of warrants drawn and passed to purchase cotton for the State.
On soldiers clothing fund of 1864. $ 1,269,010.60
On appropriation for exportation of cot- ton 1,150,000.00
On cotton card appropriation 1,000,000.00
$ 3,419,010.60
.
.
١
95
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
Amount of Treasury notes, certificates of deposit and change bills outstanding.
Eight per cent. treasury notes $ 2,743,000.00
Eight per cent. certificates of deposit. 1,015,000.00
Six per cent. treasury notes.
4,355,000.00
Six per cent. certificates of deposit. 445,000.00
Treasury notes redeemable in Confederate
treasury notes or public dues 5,171,500.00
Change bills redeemable in Confederate treasury notes
997,775.85
$ 14,727,275.85
With the exception of giving the day and month on which these several classes of treasury notes and change bills were paid into the treasury (which statement was neither required by law, or heretofore deemed at all material) all of the above facts and other matters con- nected with the issuing of all these notes, have heretofore been given in my annual report for the years 1862, 1863, 1864 and 1865. All of which is respectfully submitted. 1
PETERSON THWEATT,
Comptroller-General
96
EXHIBIT A.
Being an extract from the Warrant Book In the Treasury, showing the warrants pald on different funds created by Acts of the Legislature au- thorizing the purchase of cotton.
WHEN DRAWN.
No.
WHEN PAID.
ON SOLDIERS CLOTHING FUND OF 1864
1864
1864
Feb.
11
571
Feb.
11
Favor of Central R. R. Co. for freight on 183 bales of cotton from Macon to Augusta.
640.50
Feb.
19
590 Feb.
19
Favor L. Waitzfelder, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State.
500,000.00
March 2
632
March 2
Favor A. Wilbur, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State __
100,000.00
March 9
610
March 9
Favor J. Jones Jr., for um't adv'ed by order of Gov. to Gans & Co. to purchase cotton, . Favor L. Waitzfelder, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State,.
200.000.00
March 31
1
682
April
1
1 - Favor I .. Waitzfelder, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State, 30,000.00
100.000.00
June
18
979
June
18
Favor A. Wilbur, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State, ..
32,000.00
June
18
980
June
18
Favor L. Waitzfelder, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State,.
186,370.10
1,269,010.60
1865
1865
ON FUNDS FOR EXPORTATION OF COTTON.
Jan.
20
150
Jan.
20
L. Waitzfelder, Agent, for part of appropriation to purchase cotton for exportation,.
May
7
390
May
7
L. Waitzfelder, Agent, for part of appropriation to purchase cotton for exportation,
May
22
480
May
22
L. Waitzfelder, Agent, for part of appropriation to purchase cotton for exportation,
700.000.00 200,000.00 250,000.00
1,150,000.00
1864
1864
ON COTTON CARD APPROPRIATION.
April 19 June 1
710 933
June
1
L. Waitzfelder, Agent, to purchase cotton for the State of Georgia,.
June
18
980
Juno
18
L. Waitzfelder, Agent, to purchase cotton for the State of Georgia, -
400,000.00 500,000.00 100,000.00
1,000,000.00
3,419,010.60
CONFEDERATE
RECORDS
1
April May
11
861
May
11
Favor L. Waitzfeller, Agent, to pay for cotton purchased by the State,-
April 19
L. Waitzfelder, Agent, to purchase cotton for the State of Georgia,
120,000.00
678 March 31
97
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th, 1865.
The following message was transmitted to the con- vention, to-wit :
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T. OF GA., MILLEDGEVILLE, November 7th, 1865.
Gentlemen of the Convention :
I have just received the following telegram.
JAMES JOHNSON.
(Copy Telegram.) WASHINGTON, November 5, 1865.
TO JAS. JOHNSON,
Prov. Gov .:
The organization of a police force in the several counties for the purpose of arresting marauders, sup- pressing crime, and enforcing the civil authority, as indi- cated in your preamble and resolutions, meets with ap- probation. It is hoped that your people will, soon as practicable, take upon themselves the responsibility of enforcing and sustaining all laws, State and Federal, in conformity to the constitution of the United States.
(Signed) ANDREW JOHNSON,
President U. S.
1
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98
1
CONFEDERATE RECORDS
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9th, 1865.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T. OF GA., MILLEDGEVILLE, November 9th, 1865.
It is hereby ordered and directed, That Thomas P. Saffold, of Morgan, Charles S. Jourdan, of Jasper, and A. O. Lochrane, of Bibb, be, and they are hereby ap- pointed the committee to investigate the matters and things specified in the resolution of the late convention.
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Executive Department, the day and year above written.
JAMES JOHNSON, Prov. Gov. of Ga.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T. OF GA., MILLEDGEVILLE, November 9th, 1865.
TO THE JUSTICES OF THE INFERIOR COURT OF
MUSCOGEE COUNTY :
Whereas, a vacancy has occurred in the representa- tion from the County of Muscogee in the Georgia State Convention, by the death of the Hon. Hines Holt; And whereas, it is the duty of the Governor in all such cases to issue his writ of election to fill such vacancy; Now. therefore, I, James Johnson, Provisional Governor of the State of Georgia, do issue this, my writ of electiou, requiring you, or a majority of you, after giving due legal notice, io cause an election to be held in manner and form as required by law to fill said vacancy.
99
PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR JAMES JOHNSON
Given under my hand and the Seal of the Executive Department, the day and year above written.
'JAMES JOHNSON, Prov. Gov. of Ga.
A copy of the above writ forwarded to the Justices of the Inferior Court of the County of Quitman to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of the Hon. B. H. Rice.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9th, 1865.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, PROVISIONAL GOV'T. OF GA., MILLEDGEVILLE, November 9th, 1865.
HON. HUGH MCCULLOCH,
Secretary of the Treasury of the U. S.
SIR: At the request of the convention, I have the honor to transmit herewith a copy of a memorial and *resolution passed by the convention, requesting a sus- pension of the tax on land until Congress shall assemble.
I do not know how much discretion the law allows you to exercise in such a case under such circumstances, but if it be within your power, I most respectfully and earnestly unite with the convention in asking of you the favor that the prayer of the memorialists be granted.
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